Fairhope, AL Birth Photographer | Baby Boy Ferrell

The first time I chat with upcoming birth clients, one question each asks is some form of, "When do you come to the hospital?", "When should I call you?", "How do I know when to call you?" My answer is always the same - my goal is to be with you by the time you're at 6cm or before you enter the transition phase of birth.

Transition is the final phase of the first stage of labor. During this stage mama progresses from 7cm to 10cm - usually in 30 minutes to 2 hours time. Often during this phase, she starts to feel the pressure of baby's head coming down, sometimes accompanied by the urge to push.
Transition is best marked by it's emotional challenges. Often the birthing mother doesn't know what to do and may become panicked or scared.
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I ask that my clients call or text me as soon as they "think" labor may be starting. This doesn't mean always I'll head to the hospital. This just gives me a heads up that today may be the day. For some clients that call may be a false alarm, but for other clients, like Alison, that call may come as she's getting in the car being rushed to the hospital by her husband. Sometimes labor goes slowly.

And sometimes labor goes FAST. 
Alison warned me when she booked that her two previous labors had been very short, so I was on red-alert leading up to her due-date. I knew that she would have a 30-40 minute drive from her home to Thomas Hospital in Fairhope, AL and that it would take me 45-50 minutes to get there myself. When Alison called me around 7:30 that morning to tell me she was headed to the hospital, I asked how she was feeling and if she thought I should go ahead and head her way or if she'd rather I  wait until she got checked in. She said I should hurry. And thank goodness she did!

I was changed and out my front door in under 5-minutes.
Zipping across Baldwin county, Alabama, I arrived at the hospital 45-minutes later (thank goodness for valets) - only 10ish minutes after Alison and Sean's arrival at the ER. By the time I got to their room, Alison was already in transition even though just over an hour before she'd been going about her morning like normal.
Baby was coming and he was coming now.
Four minutes after I arrived in the deliver room, Alison's obstetrician arrived from his office next door to check her only to tell her it was time to have her baby. 
Four minutes later, their baby boy was born!

Every labor is different. Every birth is different. Every baby is different. 
But I will do everything in my power (and break some speeding laws) to get to you in time when at all possible!

Another question my birth photography clients always ask is how long I stay after the birth. The short answer is 1 - 2 hours. The longer answer is: I stay to document golden hour as you bond with your baby, I stay to capture baby's first weight and length and footprints, I stay to capture baby's first latch (if you decide to breastfeed), I stay and quietly click away capturing all of the special moments and details while the Oxytocin courses through your body as you breathe in your new baby!

And sometimes, when I feel it's the right thing to do, I stay a bit longer.

Finding Beauty in the Ordinary Photography offers Birth Photography in northwest Florida and south Alabama that is timeless and unforgettable. Maternity, birth, and newborn photography sessions should be booked early in the second trimester to ensure availability at the time of delivery. Amanda offers a high-end, full service experience including a pre-session consultation, exclusive access to her Maternity and Newborn wardrobe, an online proofing gallery to share and download your included high-resolution digital images, and an array of professional print, canvas, and album options. I can’t wait to hear from you and help create your own beautiful heirloom memories!
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